Victoria Jones is a somewhat impulsive but sharp minded (although reckless is, I think, more accurate description) young woman. After meeting mysterious young man she decides to follow him to his new work-place, distant Baghdad. At the same time, world leaders are planning a secret meeting in Baghdad and a shady world organization is planning to stop the meeting and sow discord among polarized states (after all we are talking 1950’s here). Of course, Victoria Jones ends up in the middle of this cloak-and-dagger war.

To be honest, I never expected Agatha Christie to write a spy novel, let alone James Bond-like novel but with this one she proved that she can write whatever she likes.

Story drags a little bit from time to time, but again I take this as a mark of the time novel was written. Nevertheless book has a very interesting story and heroine.

Give it a shot, you will not be disappointed.

Recommended. ( )

I read this about a year ago and the details are a little hazy. What I remember is there is a spunky heroine and archeological details; Ms. Christie was married to an archeologist.

See some of Elizabeth Peters' Ameiia Peabody mysteries for another spunky heroine; e.g., Crocodile on the Sandback. ( )

http://rhydypennau.blogspot.com/2009/... ( )

This book is by no means Christie's best, but I first read it when I was 13 and I am sentimentally attached to it. It seems to have become very relevant, given the war in Iraq and I love reading about the country before GWB and, indeed, Saddam. The actual plot is far fetched and rather silly, but the archaeological scenes are brilliant and the local color is interesting. There is also a pretty good romance. ( )

Yawn.